Container



Nov. 6, 1934. o. B. ANDREWS CONTAINER Filed Nov. 17, 1931 lENTOR 011W]-.B. mdmvs BY MJQ 4 ATTdRNEY;

Patented Nov. 6, 1934 NT F F I Q CONTAINER Oliver B. Andrews,

Chattanooga, Tenn.

Application November 17, 19.3.1, Serial No. 575,536

3 Claims.

This invention relates to containers and more particularly to amerchandise container adapted to be carried by the hand.

My container is made from a single blank of material scored to defineside Walls, and top and bottom flaps forming the top and bottom of thecontainer. The blank is folded into tubular form with the ends securedtogether to form the body of the container. The blank may be shipped inthis condition by the box manufacturer and set up by the user, therebyeconomining in shipping costs and storage space. One of the bottom flapsextends across the entire bottom of the container and is provided with atab which is inserted upwardly into the con-- tamer when the same isassembled. A cutout tongue portion on this tab may be threaded through aslit cut in one of the side walls of the containerto. retain. thisbottom closure flap in fixed bottom closing position. The operation ofclosing the bottom of the container is quickly effected at the time thecontainer is to be packed with merchandise by the user. This arrangementprovides a box bottom of unusual strength and damp or semi-liquidmaterials can be packed in the container without loosening or destroyingthe bottom as would be the case if the bottom were glued or cementedtogether. The top of the container is provided with two pairs of flaps,one pair of which are provided with openings which provide an eifectivehand grip by means of which the container can be carried.

An object of my invention is to provide a container formed from a singleblank which can be shipped and stored in flat condition, which can bequickly assembled into container form by the user, and which is providedwith means for carrying the container when fully assembled and packedwith merchandise.

Another object of my invention is to provide a container having a bottomclosure which can be closed by a single operation at the time thecontainer is to be packed and without the use 45 of glue or otherextraneous securing means.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a container which isunusually economical to manufacture, which is strong and sturdy inconstruction, and which provides an attractive container in whichmerchandise can be shipped and carried.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent as the disclosureproceeds.

Fig. l is a cutout blank from which my container is formed;

Fig. 2is a perspective View of my container as completely assembled;

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross sectional view through my container, showingmore particularly the bottom construction, this view being taken on toline 3--3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective View of the bottom portion of my containerpartially closed; and

Fig. 5 is a vertical cross sectional view of the bottom portion of mycontainer about to be locked in closed assembled position.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views of the drawing and the specification.

My container is formed from a single blank, as shown in Fig. 1;, whichmay be made of cardboard, fiber board, fibrous or other sheet materials,the selection of whichwould depend;upon the use to which the containeris tobe put. The blank comprises generally a front wall portion 10, arear wall portion 11-, and end wall portions' 12 and 13 defined by thescore lines 14. Bottom flaps 15 and 16 are hinged to the end wallportions 12 and 13 along the score lines 17. I A bottom portion 18,hinged to the side wall portion 10 along the score line 19, is providedwith a tab portion 20 hinged to the bottom portion 18 along the scoreline 21.

To assemble the container, the blank shown in Fig. 1, is folded intotubular form and the free edge 22 of the blank is secured to the freeedge 23 of the blank by any well known means, such as an adhesive strip24 shown in Fig. 2. The container can be shipped or stored in flattenedtubular form and in this condition oocupies very little space. When thecontainer is to be filled with material, however, the tube is raised tothe proper container shape, the flap portions 15 and 16 turned inwardlyand the bottom portion 18 folded over the flaps l5 and 16, as shown inFig. 4. The tab portion 20 is then inserted within the box along theinside face of the front wall portion 11, as shown in Fig. 5. The tongueportion 25, cut out from the tab portion 20 as shown in Fig. ,4, isinserted through a slit 26 cut into the front wall 11 and the tongue isthen bent downwardly along the outside face of the front wall, as shownin Figs.

2 and 3. When the tongue portion 25 is thus positioned, it is seen thatthe bottom portion 18 is securely locked in place and is able to carrymaterials of considerable weight. The necessity of gluing the bottom,which is an expensive operation and can only be satisfactorily done bythe container manufacturer, is eliminated. 11o

Thus the container can be shipped fiat and collapsed, effecting a greatsaving in shipping costs and storage space. The bottom portion of thecontainer can be easily and quickly assembled by the user thereof withthe assurance that the container bottom is amply strong to support thematerials for which it is designed to be carried.

The top of the container is closed by the tab portions 27 and 28 hingedto the end wall portions 12 and 13 along the score line 29. The flapportions 30 and 31 are hinged to the side wall portions 10 and 11 alongthe score line 32. Flap portions 30 and 31 are preferably provided withhand openings 33 by means of which the container may be carried aboutwhen the flap portions 30 and 31 are raised to the position shown inFig. 3. As shown in Fig. 2, the top of the container is closed byfolding the flap portions 27 and 28 inwardly with the flap portions 30and 31 lapped thereover.

While certain novel features of the invention have been disclosed andare pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes may be made by those skilledin the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A collapsible marketing container of the character describedincluding, a plurality of side walls, bottom flaps hinged to one end ofsaid side walls, one of said bottom flaps covering tl e entire bottom ofthe container, a tab portion hinged along one side of said bottomcovering flap inserted into the container body, a tongue stamped outfrom said tab portion and extending through a slit cut in one of saidside walls,

said slit being of such size and shape that the surrounding parts of thecontainer will frictionally grip said tab to firmly lock the said bottomcovering flap in bottom closing position,

means for closing the top of the container, and

a pair of top flap portions each flap being m ne hinged to an oppositeside wall, said flap portions having openings therein forming a handgrip by means of which the container may be carried.

2. A collapsible marketing container formed from a one piece blankhaving side wall portions, means for securing the side edges of saidblank together to form a collapsible tube, a bottom flap hinged to oneof said side wall portions and adapted to cover the entire bottom ofsaid tube, a tab portion hinged along the side of said bottom flap andadapted to be inserted into the container, and a tongue stamped out fromsaid tab portion and adapted to be inserted into a slit cut in one ofsaid side wall portions, said slit being of such size and shape that thesurrounding parts of the container will frictionally grip said tab tofirmly lock said flap portion in bottom closing position, and a pair ofcarrying flaps hinged to said side wall portions and having openingstherein forming a hand grip by means of which the container may becarried.

3. A cardboard merchandise carrying container comprising a plurality ofside wall portions fastened together to form a collapsible tube, handlemeans secured to the top end of said tube to pro vide a hand clasp forcarrying said container, a bottom flap hinged to one of said side Wallportions at the bottom of said tube, said flap covering substantiallythe entire bottom of said tube when the same is set up for use, a tabportion hinged to the free edge of said bottom flap and adapted to beinserted into the container in juxtaposition to one of said side walls,a reverse tongue stamped out from said tab and adapted to be insertedinto a slit cut in said side wall whereby said tongue will extenddownwardly along said Wall and efiectively lock said bottom flap intoposition to support the weight of merchandise carried in said container.

CLIVER B. ANDREWS.

